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- Tasks: Lead social work excellence and drive improvements for children and families.
- Company: Achieving for Children, a 'Good' local authority focused on impactful social work.
- Benefits: 29 days annual leave, flexible working, and comprehensive support resources.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Post-graduate qualification, Social Work England registration, and Practice Educator status.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment with excellent learning and development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you a visionary social work leader dedicated to excellence in practice? Achieving for Children is looking for a Principal Social Worker (PSW) and Practice Lead to champion high-quality social work and drive continuous improvement across the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. We are an Ofsted Judged 'Good' local authority that places children and young people at the heart of everything we do.
In this pivotal role, you will be the professional voice of our frontline practitioners, ensuring that our social work delivery is reflective, evidence-based and consistently improves the lives of the families we serve.
About the role
The Principal Social Worker is a high-profile leadership position designed to bridge the gap between frontline practice and senior management. You will provide independent scrutiny on statutory duties while fostering an environment of reflective practice and professional growth. You will be an advocate for the profession, ensuring that the views of social workers and the lived experiences of children and families directly influence our service planning. You will be the driving force behind our practice frameworks and will lead the development and embedding of Signs of Safety (SoS) and our newly adopted Systemic practice, creating the resources and learning pathways that empower our workforce. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your practice through the offer of the Systemic foundational year which is accredited by the Association of Family Therapy.
Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as the primary liaison between practitioners and senior leaders, providing a strong professional voice for the workforce.
- Leading on quality assurance and policy guidance to ensure inspection readiness and compliance with professional standards.
- Embedding evidence-based approaches and monitoring the effectiveness of the Signs of Safety framework across all services.
- Working alongside the PSW for Kingston and Richmond and reporting to the Associate Director of Quality Assurance to ensure a unified approach to excellence.
About you
We are looking for a resilient, energetic leader who is passionate about strength-based practice and delivering better outcomes for children. To succeed in this role, you will need:
- Relevant post-graduate qualification and current Social Work England registration.
- You should also be a Qualified Practice Educator and a recognised Signs of Safety Practice Lead.
- A deep understanding of current legislation, statutory guidance, and inspection regimes, paired with the ability to use data to drive service improvements.
- You are a skilled negotiator and influencer, capable of providing professional challenge to senior stakeholders while remaining adaptable to various learning environments.
- A personal drive to uphold our values of Trust, Value, and Respect, with a proactive approach to addressing equality and diversity issues within practice.
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract).
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC.
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension).
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance.
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
- A range of staff benefits and discounts.
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway.
Principal Social Worker & Practice Lead in Maidenhead employer: Achieving For Children
Contact Detail:
Achieving For Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Social Worker & Practice Lead in Maidenhead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Achieving for Children on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the role and the culture, plus it shows our genuine interest.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to social work leadership. We should be ready to discuss how we’ve driven improvements in practice and how we can champion the Signs of Safety framework.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our passion for children and families during the interview. We need to share specific examples of how we've made a difference in previous roles, highlighting our commitment to strength-based practice.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed and shows that we’re serious about joining the team at Achieving for Children.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Social Worker & Practice Lead in Maidenhead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for social work shine through! We want to see how dedicated you are to making a difference in the lives of children and families. Share specific examples of your experiences that highlight your commitment to excellence in practice.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the job description. Highlight your relevant qualifications and experiences that align with the role of Principal Social Worker & Practice Lead. We love seeing how you connect your skills to our values and the responsibilities outlined in the job ad.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do and our amazing team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Achieving For Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Signs of Safety framework and systemic practice. Brush up on current legislation and statutory guidance relevant to social work. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to evidence-based practice.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in bridging gaps between frontline practice and management. Think about times when you’ve influenced change or improved outcomes for children and families, as this is key for the Principal Social Worker role.
✨Engage with Reflective Practice
Be ready to discuss how you foster an environment of reflective practice among your team. Share specific strategies you’ve used to encourage professional growth and how you’ve supported practitioners in their development.
✨Communicate Your Values
Articulate how your personal values align with those of Achieving for Children, particularly around trust, value, and respect. Be prepared to discuss how you address equality and diversity issues within your practice, as this is crucial for the role.